Qazim Koculi
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Qazim Koculi (1887 - January 2, 1943) was an Albanian politician of the early 20th century and one-day acting Prime Minister of Albania. He was also a distinguished military leader, having won the Vlora War in 1920, as the principal military commander of the Albanian forces.
Early life
Qazin, son of Muhamet Kociu, was born Qazim Muhameti in 1887, in the village of Koculi, close to Vlorë (in then Ottoman Empire, now modern Albania.[1] Koculi received his primary education in Vlorë and later moved to Ioannina, Greece to attend the Zosimea Gymnasium. He accomplished his higher education at the Kara Harp Okulu the Turkish Military Academy, graduating as a Teğmen (Second Lieutenant). He was appointed to the Ottoman Navy as a Üsteğmen (First Lieutenant). He did not obey to a military order in 1909 during a naval battle in Preveza and refused to surrender to the Italian Navy. After a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Imperial Command, Koculi fled to Argentina, where he resided until 1912.
He then returned to Vlorë upon invitation of President Ismail Qemali. The latter appointed him Director of the Port of Vlorë, a position he held until the takeover of the port by the Italians in October 1914. He retreated to Brataj, Vlorë and served as a village chief until 1917. Later he served as vice prefect of Tepelenë until 1919.
Vlora War and politics
Koculi represented Vlorë in the Congress of Lushnjë, a constituent assembly held in January 1920, and was hence appointed member of parliament. He was also Prefect of Vlorë in May 29 1920. [2]At the same time he was appointed as commander-in-chief of the Vlora War Committee. Koculi led his army to a victory over the Italian forces in the Battle of Vlora, at the end of which, on September 3, 1920, he marched into the city and took back the duties of the Vlorë prefecture.
Upon the establishment of a democratic government by the Congress of Lushnjë, the first elections for the national legislature were held on April 5, 1921 and Koculi won the Vlorë district.
Koculi was Minister of Public Works in the Government of Fan Noli by pursuing a policy of opposition to King Zogu.[3] He later (1943) became a member of the Fascist Party of Albania and became an instrument of the oppressors [4] Koculi was murdered by the communist Albanian guerrillas while he was trying to negotiate on behalf of the Fascist Party that peace between the Fascist regime and the communist guerrillas was possible.[5]
See also
References
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- ↑ Ago Agaj Vlora War: Told by a participant (in Albanian: Lufta e Vlorës: tregim i njëj pjesëmarrësi) page 179([1])
- ↑ Owen Pearson Albania and King Zog: independence, republic and monarchy 1908-1939 The Centre for Albanian Studies page 145 ([2])
- ↑ Owen Pearson Albania and King Zog: independence, republic and monarchy 1908-1939 The Centre for Albanian Studies page 224 ([3])
- ↑ Owen Pearson Albania and King Zog: independence, republic and monarchy 1908-1939 The Centre for Albanian Studies page 224 ([4])
- ↑ Owen Pearson Albania and King Zog: independence, republic and monarchy 1908-1939 The Centre for Albanian Studies page 233 ([5])